Window sash



E. K. GEYSER May 21, 1940'.

WINDOW SASH Filed 001;. 5, 1938 INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B vwm Mala-W 4 ATTORNEYS;

May 21, 1940. E. K. GEYSER WINDOW SASH Filed Oct. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mz/i @Mw WITNESJES ATTORNEYS.

Patented May2l, 1940 I 2 20 577.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFICE 2,201,577 wmnow SASH Emil K. Geyser, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 5, 1938, Serial No. 233,352

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-64) This invention relates to window sash, and hand. That is, a plurality of vertical muntins more particularly to metal sash for industrial are directly connected at their upper ends to the buildings, greenhouses and the like. building structure at the top of the window open- As far as I am aware, the universal practice ing, preferably by bolting to a horizontal member 5 in installing metal window sash is to buy a comor lintel that supports the wall above the open- 5 pletely fabricated sash, and then fasten it in ing. The lower ends of the muntins may be place in a window opening, often in a window anchored in the building Wall below the opening. frame previously mounted therein. In addition A sufficient number of these'vertical muntins are to the cost of the frame and of manufacturing used to give the desired spacing for panes' of the sash at a mill or factory, there is the addiglass throughout the width of the window open- 10- tional cost of installing them in the building. ing. A plurality of horizontal muntins are then As sash become bulkier and heavier to handle connected by simple fastening means to the outer and ship as their size is increased, they are more faces of the vertical muntins whereby rectangular or less limited in size, whereby when a large glass-receiving openings are formed. The horiwindow is desired two or more sash must be zontal muntins are disposed at vertically spaced 15 separately installed and connected together by intervals throughout the height of the opening, mullions. This adds materially to the installaand each one extends entirely across the opening. tion cost of the window as a whole, especially Etach horizontal muntin is preferably H-shape when substantially an entire side of a building is in cross section to provide channels for receivprovided with a window. In making such preing the edges'of the panes of glass. To permit 20 fabricated sash it is the practice to interfit the the glass to be readily installed and held in place vertical and horizontal muntins where they interwithout the use of separate fastening members, sect by cutting each partly away. This weakens the upper channel of each muntin is shallower the sash to some extent. Non-ferrous metal, althan the lower channel so that a pane of glass though desirable for a metal sash because it does below the muntin can be inserted in'its lower 5 not have to bepainted to protect'it, is not genchannel and raised far enough to clear the upper erally used because the cost of making all of channel in the bottom of that particular glassthe muntins of such metal is quite expensive. receiving opening, whereupon the glass is lowered It is among the objects of this invention to into the latter channel and held in place by the provide a method of supplying a window openflanges of both channels. The panes of glassare 30 ing with a window sash in which construction of then sealed in place by putty which also seals the sash and its installation in the building are the space between thev side edges of the glass combined into one operation, in which a separate panels where they overlap the vertical muntins window frame is rendered unnecessary, in which and thereby protects those muntins from the a single sash of any desired size is readily inoutside atmosphere. 35 stalled, in which handling of the sash material The outer faces of the end muntins may be before installation is greatly simplified, and in protected and the ends of the sash given a finwhich economical use can be made of non-ferrous ished appearance by fastening vertical facing metal. members to the end muntins in any suitable 0 It is also among the objects of this invention manner. As the only exposed metal of the sash 0 p o d a Window Sash Which is ap to be is the horizontal muntins and end facing memfabricated during installation in the window bers, they may be made of non-ferrous metal, opening of a u d which n be readily such as aluminum, without unduly increasing the fo me in y desired size, which is strong, cost of the sash. It will thus be seen that there which is relatively inexpensive to construct and i virtually no limit to the size of the sash that 45 i a which can be Shipped and handled before can be constructed in this manner, and that beins l n i knock-down'condition, in Which fore assembly in the window opening itself the the vertical muntins are not exposed to outside ri component partscan b readily h u weather condit o d in which glass a b in knock-down condition. Furthermore, there is easily installed without the use of asten no necessity for a window frame to receive the 50 members. sash.

In accordance with this invention a window The preferred embodiment of the invention is sashadapted to fill'a window opening of any illustrated in the accompanying drawings in desired size is fabricated in the opening itself, which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary outside elevation 55. as it is being installed therein, instead of beforeof my sash installed in the'wall of a building;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged horizontal sections taken on the lines 11-11, lI[III and IV-IV, respectively, of Fig. 1; and Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are enlarged vertical sections taken on lines V-V, VI-VI and VIIVII, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the wall I of a building, most generally of masonry construction, is provided with a window opening of any desired size. The top of this opening is defined by a horizontal member or lintel 2 which is supported by the wall at the sides of the opening and in turn supports the masonry above it. This member may take various forms, but is shown in Fig. 5 as an angle iron having an outer depending flange. The bottom of the opening is provided with the usual sill 3, but the opening contains no frame for receiving the sash.

It is a feature of this invention that the sash is delivered to the building site in knock-down condition and that it is assembled or fabricated in the irameless window opening itself, whereby the construction and installation of the sash are combined into one operation and their cost thereby reduced. Accordingly, a plurality of separate vertical muntins 4 are first individually and directly connected at their upper ends to lintel 2 at predetermined horizontally spaced intervals across the entire width of the window opening. Preferably, these muntins are angle irons each having the outside of one of its flanges facing outwardly (Figs 5 to 7) with the upper end of that flange provided with an opening for receiving a bolt 6 by which the angle is connected to the depending flange of the lintel as shown in Fig. 5. If double glazing is desired, channels may be substituted for the angles in order to provide two parallel flanges. After these angles are bolted in position they are adjusted into parallel relation and their lower ends anchored in the masonry at the bottom of the window opening behind the sill which may be recessed to receive them if necessary (Figs. 1 and 7). The end muntins or angles preferably have wider outside flanges 1 than the other muntins so that they can project laterally into the wall at the sides of the window opening in order to securely connect the sash thereto.

A plurality of separate horizontal muntins H are then individually connected to the outer faces of vertical angles 4 at vertically spaced intervals in a manner to be described presently. The number of horizontal muntins used will depend, of course, upon the desired size of the glass-receiving openings and the height of the window. These muntins extend the full width of the window with their ends overlapping flanges l of the end angles, as shown in Fig. 1. If the width of the window is greater than a convenient length for the horizontal muntins, a plurality of horizontal muntins can be disposed end to end with their joints overlapping vertical muntins.

It is another feature of this invention that horizontal muntins H are formed to facilitate simple and rapid installation of the panes of glass without the use of separate fastening members. Accordingly, each of these .muntins is H-shape in cross section to form: upper and lower channels i2 and I3, as shown in Figs. 5, (i and '7. The lower channel is deeper than the upper channel so that the upper edge of a pane of glass Hi can be inserted in the lower channel of a muntin, raised'therein until its lower edge clears the top of the muntin below it, and then lowered into the shallow upper channel of the latter muntin with the upper edge of the glass still retained in the deeper bottom channel of the upper muntin. This construction also provides the horizontal muntins with upper and lower flanges l6 and I! which lie against the vertical muntins and which are adapted to be connected thereto by any suitable means, inexpensive and quick fastening means being most desirable. Fastening means suitable for this purpose consist of pairs of upper and lower tongues l8 and I9 (Fig. 6) struck out of the outer flanges of the vertical muntins, the tongues of each pair being offset and facing each other for receiving muntin flanges l5 and I1 between them. Lower tongues It are offset in a position for receiving the lower flanges of the horizontal muntin, as shown, but before the horizontal muntins are installed upper tongues l9 extend outwardly so that lower flanges ll can be inserted behind the lower tongues without interference from the upper tongues. The upper tongues are then bent down to overlap upper flanges IE to thereby lock muntins It in place (Fig. 6).

The panes of glass in each row are of sufficient length to partially overlap the vertical muntins, but are spaced apart by tongues l8 and it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the space between the panes is filled with putty 2! which not only seals that space but also covers the underlying portions of the vertical muntins and thereby protects them from the weather. The space between the upper and lower edges of each pane of glass and flanges l6 and I! of its supporting muntins is likewise filled with putty 22 for sealing purposes. This putty can be placed in the channels before the glass panes are inserted, and retouched after the glass has been set.

To provide a good seal at the opposite ends of the entire body of glass, as well as to protect the end angle iron flanges 'l and give the ends of the window a finished appearance, a plurality of short vertical facing members 23 are secured to the outer faces of the end muntins between the horizontal muntins. See Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Preferably, these facing members are the same as horizontal muntins ll, except shorter, so that they provide vertical channels 24 for the sides of the end panes of glass. Members 23 may be secured to the end muntins in any suitable manner, such as by screws 25 passing through muntin flanges 1 and tapped into the facing members, as shown in Fig. 2 or 4.

To form a good joint between the depending flange of lintel 2 and the uppermost horizontal muntin, the lintel flange projects into upper channel 12 of the upper muntin and engages its inner flange l6 (Fig. 5). The remainder of the channel is filled with caulking compound 26 to seal the top of the sash. This upper muntin is held in place by means of only lower tongues l9 which originally. extend outwardly to permit inner upper flange [6 to be inserted behind the lintel in the space produced by spacing washers 2?. Tongues l9 are then bent upwardly against lower flange I! to lock the muntin in place.

As the vertical mimtins are protected from the weather by putty 2| and facing members 23, only the horizontal muntins and the facing members are exposed. The vertical muntins can therefore be made of steel, and the horizontal muntins and facing member made of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum. Such a sash has the advantage of corrosion -resistant exposed metal without the disadvantage of high cost occurring where all parts are made of non-ferrous metal.

It will be understood from the. preceding description that a window sash constructed and installed in accordance with this invention is also economical in several other ways. The sash does not require a window frame to support it. There is no factory fabrication of the sash, and it is cheaper to handle before installation because it can be shipped and handled in knock-down condition. The sash is fabricated or assembled as it is installed in a window opening, and the method of assembly is simple and rapid. Windows of any desired size can be furnished with a single sash, whereby the cost of mullions and the cost of connecting several sash together are eliminated. The vertical muntins or angle irons serve as supports for the lintel when the window is wide, making separate supports unnecessary. Finally, the panes of glass can be quickly and easily mounted in place where they are held by the muntin flanges without the use of separate fastening members.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A window sash assembled in a substantially complete window opening having a lintel supporting the building wall above the opening, comprising a plurality of separate vertical muntins, a plurality .of individual fastening means suspending the muntins separately from said lintel at the sides of said opening and at horizontally spaced points between, the lower ends of the muntins being anchored in spaced relation at the bottom of said opening, a plurality of separate channel-like horizontal muntins extending across said opening and having their inner flanges disposed against the outer surfaces of the vertical muntins, a plurality of tongue-like members projecting from said outer faces and overlapping said inner flanges only for clamping the horizontal muntins to the vertical muntins to form a plurality of rectangular glass-receiving openings, and vertical facing members disposed between the horizontal muntins for overlapping the end portions of at least some of the panes of glass in said rectangular openings.

2. Means for closing an opening in a building having a head member extending across the top of the opening, comprising a plurality of separate vertical members having fiat outer faces disposed in a common vertical plane, a plurality of individual fastening means suspending said members separately from'said head member at the sides of said opening and at horizontally spaced points between, the lower ends of the vertical members being anchored in spaced relation at the bottom of said opening, a plurality of separate channel-like horizontal members extending across outer surfaces said opening and having their inner flanges disposed against the outer surfaces of the vertical members, and vertically spaced tongue-like members projecting from said outer faces and overlapping said inner flanges only of the horizontal members for clamping them to the vertical members to form a plurality of rectangular openings adapted to receive and be closed by planar members disposed in a vertical plane with their in front of said tongue-like members.

3. A window sash fabricated in a substantially complete window opening having a lintel supporting the building wall above the opening, comprising a plurality of separate vertical muntins having fiat outer faces disposed in a common vertical plane, a plurality of individual fastening means connecting the upper ends of the muntins directly to said lintel at the sides of said opening and at horizontally spaced points between, the lower ends of the muntins being anchored in fixed position at the bottom of said opening and the sides of the end muntins projecting into the building wall at the sides of said opening, a plurality of separate horizontal muntins extending across said opening and being H-shape in cross section to provide upper and lower channels adapted to receive the edges of panes of glass, the inner flanges of said channels lying against said outer faces of the vertical muntins, vertically spaced tongue-like members projecting from said outer faces and overlapping said flanges for clamping the horizontal muntins to the vertical muntins to form a plurality of rectangular glassreceiving openings, the lower channel of each horizontal muntin being deeper than the upper channel, said outer faces of the vertical muntins forming a backing support for putty disposed between the ends of adjacent panes of glass, and vertical facing members disposed between the horizontal muntins for overlapping the endportions of at least some of said panes.

4. A window sash assembled in a substantially complete window opening having a head member extending across the top of the opening, comprising a plurality of separate vertical muntins disposed in horizontally spaced relation with their outer faces in a common vertical plane, means for fastening each muntin to said head member the lower ends of the muntins being anchored at the bottom of said opening, a plurality of 1 separate vertically spaced horizontal channel-like muntins extending across said opening and having their inner flanges disposed against the outer faces of the vertical muntins, and clamping members connected to said vertical muntins and overlapping only said inner fianges for clamping the horizontalmuntins to the vertical muntins to form a plurality of glass-receiving openings, said horizontal muntins being otherwise free to move longitudinally across the vertical muntins to take care of expansion and contraction of the horizontal muntins.

' EMIL K. (ZlEYSEl-t. 

